Court rules against Georgia in water wars

A federal court Friday ruled against Georgia in a dispute over water rights that has been on going for two decades. U.S. District Court Judge Paul Magnuson said Lake Lanier wasn’t built for water supply and the withdrawals are illegal. He did say it would be impossible to immediately stop using the lake because it is metro Atlanta’s main water supply.  He said if the state doesn’t get permission from Congress within three years, the withdrawals must end. Alabama Gov. Bob Riley said the ruling would have a tremendous impact on his state’s economic future.